National News

Vic Government releases response to Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission

Wednesday 11 July 2018

Media and Communications Office

The Victorian Government has today released its report responding to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The report has accepted 293 of the 409 recommendations in full or in principle, while 24 remain in consideration.

A decision on the Royal Commission’s recommendation, that would require priests to divulge any admission or suspicion of sexual abuse heard in confession, is yet to be accepted.

Victoria’s Attorney-General, Martin Pakula, has indicated that he would prefer nationwide agreement regarding admissions or suspicions of sexual abuse in the confessional as opposed to a state-level decision.

In releasing its report via the Analysis & Policy Observatory (APO) website, the Victorian Government said it is ‘taking responsibility to make sure no child is failed again and the wrongs of the past are never repeated.’

Among a raft of recommendations accepted by the Andrews Government, childcare workers will be obliged to report on any suspicions of abuse of young people in their care. The recommendations also include making it an offence if an individual fails to stop abuse from occurring despite having the power to do so.